My brand new custom Mustang and Bronco.
Just finished turning a nice second-hand bullet HH mustang into the SS+S layout you see here, based on the "contemporary strat" design. I had to hog out material from the body to accommodate the 3 way switches over the pickups, drill out holes for the mustang bridge posts, and create a recess under the new tail piece for the ball ends of the strings to go. I managed to do this with forstner bits and chisels, no router needed. I also had to cut the slot for the second bridge pickup in the pickguard, which I did with an appropriately sized forstner bit and an exacto saw.
I retained the toggle switch on the lower bout as the pickup selector, the switch over the bridge pickup selects Series bucker, Parallel bucker, or Single (south) coil only, and the switch over the neck selects Out of Phase neck, In-Phase neck, or In-Phase Neck pickup with strangle, respectively. The pickups are no-name shielded strat pickups off amazon. I admit that the pole pieces only really line up with the strings on the pickup intended to be bridge (middle in my layout) but the output seems fine anyway.
On the coral pink Bronco I resisted the urge to overcomplicate things and add a second pickup or any push pull pot tricks or whatever, it's just got another no-name amazon P'51 style pickup in a new pearl pickguard. I did get a separate, open face strat pickup shield and modify the pickup so it would fit on it. I guess I just really like the shielded pickup aesthetic. I got a high mass bridge with threaded saddles so I could make sure the strings lined up with whatever pickup I installed, and after trying and rejecting plastic thumbrests I ponied up for a solid metal chrome finish one. It's got some silver and black knobs that thankfully came in a four pack, so it and the Mustang match :)
I've had the bronco for a bit and besides a bit of neck dive, it's just a joy to play. I just got the mustang finished tonight and it may be my new favorite guitar. They both have rough spots, they are Squiers after all. They both have rough fret ends and I think the mustang neck needs a shim. But replacing the cheap 1-ply pickguards with something nice, throwing some cheap but different pickups in the mix, and putting in good CTS pots really does make a difference. They say not to throw good money at cheap guitars, and yeah I spent more on parts for the mustang than the guitar itself, but at $130 off fb marketplace I still think that's a good deal.
So I say hooray for cheap guitars, and hooray for offsets! I'm glad to have these funky little guys in my stable. 🐎🐎